Device for properly mounting award bars on uniforms



July 13, 1965 E. PRzYBYslsKl 3,193,956

DEVICE FOR PROPERLY MOUNTING AWARD BARS ON UNIFORMS Filed March 28, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. 2

Edward Przybys/ski IN VEN TOR,

July 13, 1965 E. PRzYBYslsKl 3,193,956

DEVICE FOR PROPERLY MOUNTING' AWARD BARS 0N UNIFORMS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fi1ed March 28, 1965 EES Edward Przybys/'s/r l N VEN TOR. Y my 15mm United States Patent O 3 193,956 DEVICE FR PRGPERLY MOUNTING AWARD BARS N UNHFRMS Edward Przybysislri, Staten Island, NX. (230 73rd St., Brooklyn, FLY.) Filed Mar. 2S, 1963, Ser. No. 268,692 3 Claims. (Cl. 40-1.5)

The present invention is broadly concerned with award or commendation bars of the type normally worn by policemen, and is more specifically involved with the provision of a novel device for insuring a properly orientated mounting of these bars both in relation to each other and in relation to the badge normally worn.

Prior to the instant invention, award and commendation bars were secured to the breast portion of a uniform by means of long clasp pins secured to the rear of each bar, these pins being inserted through the material of the uniform and subsequently locked. As can be appreciated, to properly align and space each bar, either from an adjoining bar or from the badge, is generally a tedious and time-consuming job especially if three or more bars are involved. To further add to the di'iculty, the material of the uniform jacket, blouse or overcoat is generally quite thick causing frequent breaking or bending of the clasp pin thus necessitating the purchase of a completely new bar. Also, in addition to the above-noted undesirable features of the conventionally used types of award bars, it will be recognized that the breast portion of the uniform to which these bars are attached are subjected to an excessive amount of wear and tear due to the numerous pinholes produced in both mounting and attempting to properly space and align the bars.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the instant invention to provide a means for properly and quickly mountingl award or commendation bars in a manner so as to avoid all ofthe above difficulties normally associated with the mounting of such bars. It is proposed that this be done by providing a vertically elongated slightly curved flat adapter plate capable of being positioned on the breast portion of a uniform by the means normally utilized in mounting the badge, the adapter plate extending above the badge and presenting vertically spaced pairs of male portions of snap fasteners, the award bars themselves being made with a pair of female portions of snap fasteners mateable with a pair of the male portions on the adapter plate. The pairs of male portions on the adapter are, of course, vertically spaced a suicient distance so as to provide the proper vertical spacing between bars, thus producing both the desired alignment and spacing of the bars by merely snapping the bars t0 the adapter plate. It is intended that the adapter plate be slightly curved so as to conform to the breast with the plate itself being made of a color closely approximating the color of the uniform thus, for all purposes, being substantially invisible.

In providing such a mounting means, it is additionally a significant object of the present invention to provide a means which is inexpensive, highly durable, and is capable of being put on with no difficulty whatsoever in no more time than it takes to mount a conventional police badge.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of the upper portion of a police uniform illustrating the proper manner of mounting award and commendation bars relative to the badge, the adapter of the present invention being used to effect this mounting;

ICC

lFIGURE 2 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional vie w taken substantially on a plane passing along line 2-2 1n FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a partial cross-sectional View taken substantially on a plane passing along line 3 3 in FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 4 -is an exploded perspective view illustrating a badge, the adapter of the present invention and the mounting pin for the badge;

`FIGURE 5 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an award bar and the upper award bar mounting portion of an adapter as contemplated in the present invention; and

lFIGURE 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional View substantially along line f6-6 in FIGURE 1 illustrating the manner in which an award bar is to be secured to the adapter.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally designates the adapter plate of the present invention. This plate, while not specifically limited thereto, is to preferably be of hard slightly flexible plastic having a color as close as possible to the color of the uniform 12 with which it is to be worn.

In order that the adapter plate 10 be as inconspicuous as possible while still being fully capable of properly orientating the award bars y141, the plate 10 is to be slightly curved so as to conform to the breast portion of the uniform 12 as best illustrated in FIGURE 2. Inasmuch as it is contemplated that the adapter plate 10 be slightly flexible, slight variations in the curve of the plate are possible upon the mounting of the adapter on a uniform.

This mounting of the adapter 10 on the uniform 12 is accomplished by utilizing the normal badge mounting means which consists of vertically spaced rearwardly projecting lugs 16 on the badge 18 itself, these lugs 16, having vertically aligned holes 20 therein, being engaged through preformed holes 22 in the uniform jacket, blouse or overcoat after which a retaining means, as for example a safety pin 24 is extended through the aligned apertures 20 preventing removal of the badge. Accordingly, the adapter lll is similarly provided with vertically spaced openings 26 corresponding to the apertures 22, these openings 26 being preferably provided with metal reinforcing eyelets 28. The adapter 10, even with the eyelets r28, is of course thin enough so as to not interfere with the mounting of the badge 18 in the conventional manner. In the actual mounting of the adapter 10, the badge lugs 16 are first inserted through the openings 26 in the adapter plate and are subsequently inserted through the uniform front apertures 22 and engaged by the securing means 24. In this manner, it will be recognized that the adapter is now xed to the uniform front with the enlarged lower portion 30 of the adapter plate 1t) being hidden behind the badge while the upper arcuate portion 32 of the adapter plate extends substantially vertically above the badge 18 in a breast-hugging manner.

This upper portion 32 of the adapter plate 1) is provided with a plurality of vertically spaced pairs of male portions 34 of snap fasteners, each pair of male portions 34 having one award or commendation bar 14 secured thereto by means of complementary pairs of female portions 36 on each award bar 14.

It is contemplated that each adapter plate 10 be provided with only that number of pairs of snap fastener portions 34 needed in each individual case, that is, if a particular person is entitled to wear two bars, an adapter used by this person would only have to have two sets of fastener portions 34. The phantom lines on the upper portion 32 of the adapter 10 in FIGURE 5 is intended to signify the provision of adapter plates with one, two or more sets of fastener portions 34. Regardless of the number of award bars which are to be mounted by the adapter plate 10, as best seen in FIGURE 2, the upper 'or otherwise becomes unusable.

edge 3d lof Ythe adapter plate l10 isV to 4correspond with the upper edge ofthe uppermost award bar 14.

aneaoee VFrornthe foregoing, it wil'be recognizedV that a simpleV and inexpensive though highly novell means has been de-V vi'sed for properly, neatly and quickly mounting award and commendation bars of zthe type normally worn by policemen This hasV been doneiin va manner contemplated to avoid ,the diiculties normally attendantY in mounting the more rconventional type ofY award bars utilizing clasp pins which, in'addition to frequently break# ing, can causedamage to the uniform itself.

invention has been'rparticularly described as having the male portions of the snap fasteners on the adapter plate and the 'female portions on the award or commendation bars, it will of course be recognizedthat the reverse is also possible, the significant feature of this portion of the invention residing in the elimination of the necessity of using clasp pin mounting means, this clasp pin normallyy being the portion Vof the award bar which breaks, Vbends VWith nal referenceto the y'adapter plate, it will be noted that, above the en'-,

While the' of rearwardly projecting vertically aligned mounting lugs engaged througha pair of verticallyraligned openings in a'uniform front, 'a mounting plate positionable between the badge and uniform front, said plate being vertically elongated and including -a pair of Vvertically aligned apertures therethrough adjacent the lower end and along the vertical center line thereof for the reception of the badge lugs therethrough, therebyenabling a mounting of the Aplate on the uniform front in a 'manner so asto project vertically'ab'ove the badge, said mounting plate including a plurality/of vertically spacedfhorizontallyYV orientated award bar mountingrneans located thereon between the Yupper one of Vsaidrpair ofapertures and the upper end of i the plate.

3. VIn combination, a badge having a pair of, rearwardly projecting vertically aligned mounting' lugs, a garment 'f front having a Apair of vertically'aligned openingsthere- Ythrough,said lugs being received through said openings,

means engaging the lugs behind the garment front so as Yto prevent a withdrawal thereof, a vertically elongated mounting plate positioned between Vthe badge and the larged lowerl portion, the plateV 10 is generally rectangular v in shape and vertically elongated, curvingslightly to lthe rear and being of Va width Vnarrower than the length'ofV the award bars to be mountedthereon. l

' The foregoing Yis considered vas illustrative'only of the principles of Ythe invention. Y modications and changes willV readily o ccur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shownV and` described, and accordingly all suitable*modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, fallingwithinthe yscope of the invention as claimed. Y What is claimed as new is as follows: n Y 1. For` use in combination with a badge having a pair of rearwardly projecting vertically aligned mounting lugs engaged-through a pair of vertically alignedY openings in a uniform front, a mounting plate positionable between Further, since numerous the badge and uniform front, said plate being verticallyV Y elongated and Vincluding a pairof vertically aligned apertures therethrough adjacent the lower endvand along the L vertical center linethereof for the reception. of the badge lugs therethrough, thereby enabling mounting the plate on the uniform front in a manner so as to project verti-r cally above the badge, said mounting Vplatel including at least one horizontally orientated award Ybar mounting v means located adjacent the upper end yof the plate.

2. For use in combination with a badgeY having a pair` I garment front and'extending vertically above the badge,

said mounting plate including a pair of vertically aligned vapertures therethrough :adjacent-the lower end, said apertures'receiving the badgeilugsV therethrough prior to passage of thelugsr through the garment front openings,

thereby mounting VtheV plate between the badge` and garment front, and aV plurality of vertically spaced horizontally orientated award bar mounting means located on the plate between the upperv one ofv said Vapertures and theV upper end of the plate.

References Cited by theExanliner UNITED STATES PATENTS ieaoME YsCHrnnL'L,V Primary Emmer, LEONARD W. VARNERExan'1z`ner. 

1. FOR USE IN COMBINATION WITH A BADGE HAVING A PAIR OF REARWARDLY PROJECTING VERTICALLY ALIGNED MOUNTING LUGS ENGAGED THROUGH A PAIR OF VERTICALLY ALIGNED OPENINGS IN A UNIFORM FRONT, A MOUNTING PLATE POSITIONABLE BETWEEN THE BADGE AND UNIFORM FRONT, SAID PLATE BEING VERTICALLY ELONGATED AND INCLUDING A PAIR OF VERTICALLY ALIGNED APERTURES THERETHROUGH ADJACENT THE LOWER END AND ALONG THE VERTICAL CENTER LINE THEREOF FOR THE RECEPTION OF THE BADGE LUGS THERETHROUGH, THEREBY ENABLING MOUNTING THE PLATE 